Are accelerated nursing programs for you?
By 2012 the U.S. Department of Labor estimates there will be a need for more than 1,000,000 new and replacement Registered Nurses . As a result many nursing schools across the country are exploring ways in which to increase capacity and reach new student populations. One way is fast track nursing schools which provide accelerated nursing programs for non-nursing graduates. These nursing schools offer a Baccalaureate and Master's Degree programs which build on previous learning experiences. They provide a way for those individuals who have an undergraduate degrees in some other fields of expertise to transfer into accelerated nursing programs.
Accelerated nursing programs give the student the quickest route to gain a license as a Registered Nurse for those who have already completed a Bachelor's degree in some other field. Such programs take between 11 to 18 months to complete and include prerequisites, While a fast track master's degree program will usually take the students 3 years to complete.
At present such accelerated nursing programs are available in 43 states across the US and also in the District of Columbia. By the middle of 2006 there were almost 200 accelerated baccalaureate programs and just under 50 accelerated master's degree programs to be found at nursing schools across the country. Further more as of July 2006 there around 40 accelerated baccalaureate degree programs in the planning stage as well as 17 new accelerated master's programs.
What are accelerated nursing programs about?
These programs accomplish the required training in a very short time as they build on your previous learning experiences. The instruction provided on these programs is intense as the courses are offered to students full time with no breaks between sessions. However the students on these programs will receive the same number of hours as those of their counterparts who are using traditional nursing programs.
Admission standards are high and they will usually require the student to have a minimum of 3.0 GPA, and the student usually will have to go through a thorough screening process before they are accepted. But those who eventually are accepted for these programs are encouraged NOT to also try and hold down a job, as the pressures that are associated with this intense training will make it hard for them to be able to complete the degree requirements.
The nursing schools which provide these accelerated nursing programs are specifically geared to those individuals who have already proven their ability to succeed at a college. Most students who have already finished either a bachelor's degree, or are graduate degree students tend to be attracted to these fast track programs as they are the logical next step in their higher education and a successful nursing career.
Published March 6th, 2007
